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Northern Ireland Environmental Scanning Report – November 2007

Regulation

1. Minister indicates support for UK wide pharmaceutical society

The Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety held an evidence session with Minister Michael McGimpsey on Friday 23 November. The provision within the Health and Social Care Bill to separate the regulatory, leading and professional functions of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was discussed. While the Minister indicated his support for this provision, some committee members expressed concerns about losing the identity of Northern Ireland’s pharmacy body. In response Mr McGimpsey claimed the Bill would restructure, not abolish, the PSNI.

2. PSNI & PSI sign first Agreement of Understanding

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland signed their first Agreement of Understanding at the second National Pharmaceutical Summit in Dublin. The formal Agreement commits both sides to working together to improve patient care and professional development across the island. For more information click on the heading.

3. Proposal to lower NI Age of Consent

The age of sexual consent in Northern Ireland is to be reduced to 16 to bring it in line with the rest of the UK. The draft Sexual Offences NI Order 2007 was laid before the House of Commons on Tuesday 20th November. It proposes a range of new laws aimed at protecting children and strengthening protection against sexual crime. To read the draft legislation click on the heading.  

DHSSPS

4. Chief Executive Designate of Health and Social Care Authority resigns

David Sissling has resigned as Chief Executive Designate of the Health and Social Services Authority (HSSA) to take up the post of Programme Director for Healthcare in London. His move comes less than two months after the Minister confirmed he was delaying the proposed establishment of HSSA, the body due to replace the current four Health Boards, until at least April 2009.

5. Health Minister to consult with frontline healthcare staff on draft budget

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey is hosting consultation roadshows to find out frontline health service staff views and concerns about the draft budget. During each meeting with the health and social care trusts, the Minister will hear from staff involved in different areas of the health service such as primary and community care; mental health and learning disability, and children and elderly services. For further information click on the heading.

6. Minister launches nursing recruitment campaign

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, with the support of Universities and the Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland, has launched a campaign to encourage students to apply for Mental Health or Learning Disability nursing. The Department wishes to address the shortage of nurses in these branches. For further information, click on the heading above.

7. Launch of nursing care standards for patient food in hospital

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has launched a new nursing care programme aimed at improving standards for patient food in hospital. Along side other important initiatives, ‘Get your 10 a day!’ standards will see patients who require support with eating and drinking clearly identified and all patients admitted to hospital screened for risk of malnutrition as well as high risk patients receiving a full nutritional assessment. To view a copy of ‘Get your 10 a day!’ standards, click on the heading.

Cross Border

8. New cross border GP Out of Hours Service

From 26 November 2007 people living in the South Armagh border area of Northern Ireland will be able to access urgent GP Out of Hours services in the Republic of Ireland. This new service was developed with the support of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland and the Department of Health and Children in the Republic of Ireland. Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT), the cross border health and social care partnership, secured European Union INTERREG IIIA funds to bring the service on stream. In January 2007 a similar pilot scheme was launched which allows patients living in border areas of Inishowen, County Donegal to access Northern Ireland GP Out of Hours services in Derry/Londonderry. Both schemes will be evaluated with a view to establishing how the cross border service could be extended throughout the border. For more information on the scheme click on the heading.

Assembly

9. Health Minister and Health Committee Chair disagree over draft Budget

A public disagreement over the health allocation in the draft Budget has erupted between Chair of the Health Committee Iris Robinson MP MLA and Minister for Health Michael McGimpsey MLA. The Minister criticised the draft Budget for creating a funding shortfall in health.  Iris Robinson subsequently accused the Minister of shying away from making tough cost cutting decisions. A heated exchange between the two resulted in the Chair of the Health Committee Iris Robinson being suspended from the Assembly for one day on Monday 19th November for accusing the Minister of ‘‘misleading the House’.

10. Minister quizzed on bids submitted in relation to the draft budget

Iris Robinson, Chair of the Health Committee, asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the ranking order of bids submitted by his department to the Department of Finance and Personnel, in relation to the draft Budget. To view the written answer click on the heading above and scroll down.

Annual party conferences

11. GMC hosts information stand at SDLP and Alliance party conferences

The SDLP and Alliance both held their annual party conferences on Saturday 3 November. The GMC Northern Ireland office hosted an information stand at both.